Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy

Research Area:   Hepatic and pancreatic differentiation of human ES cells

Liver and pancreas are two organs with endoderm origin. These two organs are also closely related in development. The reciprocal pancreatic and hepatic cell fate was regulated by extracellular growth factors and intracellular transcriptional factors. The extracellular FGF and BMP initiated the hepatic cell fate, while the pancreatic cell fate was induced by the absence of these two signals or the presence of RA. These signals were applied to induce the human ES or iPS cell differentiation. However, the signals that drive the further differentiation of these progenitors are not available. My research interest is to reveal the role of transcriptional factors in hepatic and pancreatic development by studying the differentiation of human ES and patient-specific iPS cells.

Training / Education

2004-2009 PhD, Peking University, China
2000-2004 BE, Central South University, China

Publications

Cai J, Yu C, Liu Y, Chen S, Guo Y, Young J, Lu W, Ding M, Deng H.  Generation of Homogeneous PDX1+ Pancreatic Progenitors from Human ES
Cell-derived Endoderm Cells.  J Mol Cell Biol. 2: 50-60 (2010).

Song Z, Cai J, Liu Y, Zhao D, Yong J, Duo S, Song X, Guo Y, Zhao Y, Qin H, Yin X, Wu C, Che J, Lu S, Ding M, Deng H. Efficient generation of hepatocyte-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Cell Res. 19:1233-42 (2009).

Zhao D, Chen S, Cai J, Guo Y, Song Z, Che J, Liu C, Wu C, Ding M, Deng H. Derivation and characterization of hepatic progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells. PLoS One. 4:e6468 (2009).

Cai J, Zhao Y, Liu Y, Ye F, Song Z, Qin H, Meng S, Chen Y, Zhou R, Song X, Guo Y, Ding M, Deng H. Directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into functional hepatic cells. Hepatology. 45:1229-39 (2007).